§ 41-21-801 Part definitions
§ 41-21-802 Applicability
§ 41-21-803 Venue
§ 41-21-804 Dismissal of claim – Grounds – Factors for determination – Poverty hearings
§ 41-21-805 Affidavit of inability to pay – Requirements
§ 41-21-806 Claims subject to review by grievance committees
§ 41-21-807 Accounting of inmate funds required as part of civil action – Payment of fees – Frivolous or malicious claims
§ 41-21-808 Award of costs – Requirement of payment of costs – Withdrawal from inmate’s trust account – Separate from other methods of collection – Additional payments
§ 41-21-809 Hearings – Video communications
§ 41-21-810 Request for documents – Affidavits to be under oath
§ 41-21-811 Dismissal of claim or portion of claim
§ 41-21-812 Filing of subsequent lawsuits not permitted until expenses paid – Injunctive relief
§ 41-21-813 Inmate questionnaires
§ 41-21-814 Part not modifiable or repealable by supreme court
§ 41-21-815 Claims for preventive relief
§ 41-21-816 Forfeit of good conduct credits
§ 41-21-817 Grievance resolution system
§ 41-21-818 Administrative procedures
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code > Title 41 > Chapter 21 > Part 8 - Lawsuits by Inmates

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Allegation: something that someone says happened.
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • Claim: means any lawsuit or appeal filed by an inmate except a petition for post-conviction relief. See Tennessee Code 41-21-801
  • Commissioner: means the commissioner of correction. See Tennessee Code 41-21-801
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Department: means the department of correction. See Tennessee Code 41-21-801
  • Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
  • Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Garnishment: Generally, garnishment is a court proceeding in which a creditor asks a court to order a third party who owes money to the debtor or otherwise holds assets belonging to the debtor to turn over to the creditor any of the debtor
  • Habeas corpus: A writ that is usually used to bring a prisoner before the court to determine the legality of his imprisonment. It may also be used to bring a person in custody before the court to give testimony, or to be prosecuted.
  • In forma pauperis: In the manner of a pauper. Permission given to a person to sue without payment of court fees on claim of indigence or poverty.
  • Inmate: means a person housed in a facility operated by the department, housed in a county jail or housed in a correctional facility operated by a private corporation pursuant to a contract with the state or local government. See Tennessee Code 41-21-801
  • Lawsuit: A legal action started by a plaintiff against a defendant based on a complaint that the defendant failed to perform a legal duty, resulting in harm to the plaintiff.
  • Month: means a calendar month. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
  • Oath: includes affirmation. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • Record: means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in a perceivable form. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • United States: includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.
  • written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105